The Role of Pod Corn in the Origin and Evolution of Maize

Mangelsdorf, Paul C.

doi:10.2307/2394701

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Based on archaeological data, pod corn was long suspected to represent the natural state of maize (8) and the Tu locus was suspected to be responsible for controlling the switch from hard to soft glumes during maize domestication (5,6,9). However, the hypothesis that Tu was involved in maize evolution has been refuted by chromosomal mapping data (10).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on gene dosage, the Tu mutation may also cause other strong phenotypic features in male (tassel) and female (ear) inflorescences of maize, including branching and development of lower florets in the ears and development of seeds in the tassel (5). Because of its bizarre phenotype, pod corn has been of religious significance for certain native tribes of American Indians since pre-Columbian times, who believed it to have magical and curative properties (5)(6)(7). This presumably led to the propagation of a mutant by medicine men that might otherwise have been discarded as worthless (7).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…tunicata" almost 2 centuries ago by the French naturalist Saint-Hilaire, who proposed that pod corn represents the natural state of maize (8). This raised a considerable, longlasting scientific interest in pod corn, as is evident from the extensive literature on the topic (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Despite this, the molecular mechanism responsible for the Tu phenotype remained elusive.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Molecular genetic basis of pod corn ( Tunicate maize)

Wingen

Münster

Faigl

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Pod corn is a classic morphological mutant of maize in which the mature kernels of the cob are covered by glumes, in contrast to generally grown maize varieties in which kernels are naked. Pod corn, known since pre-Columbian times, is the result of a dominant gain-of-function mutation at the Tunicate ( Tu ) locus. Some classic articles of 20th century maize genetics reported that the mutant Tu locus is complex, but molecular details remained elusive. Here, we show that pod corn is caused by a cis -regulatory mutation and duplication of the ZMM19 MADS-box gene. Although the WT locus contains a single-copy gene that is expressed in vegetative organs only, mutation and duplication of ZMM19 in Tu lead to ectopic expression of the gene in the inflorescences, thus conferring vegetative traits to reproductive organs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Molecular genetic basis of pod corn ( Tunicate maize)

Wingen

Münster

Faigl

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…DE WET, HARLAN and GRANT 1971). Those that combine 18 Tripsacum and 10 lea chromosomes were studied in cytogenetic detail by MANGELSDORF andREEVES (1939), andCHAGANTI (1965). These hybrids set seed readily when pollinated by maize, and the offspring have 18 Tr + 20 Zm chromosomes.…”

Section: Experimental Evidence For Introgressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introgression fromTripsacumintoZeaand the Origin of Maize

et al. 1972

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“…The dominant mutations Ts-5 (Tassel-seed) and Tu (Tunicate, having leafy glumes covering the grain) were described by Nickerson and Dale (11). The Tunicate trait is believed to represent the ancestral origin of modern maize, being expressed in pod corn and other primitive strains (10). The glumes of Tunicate maize kernels resemble leaves more than glumes in structure and function (5).…”

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confidence: 99%

Sugar Uptake and Metabolism in the Developing Endosperm of Tassel-seed Tunicate (Ts-5 Tu) Maize

Thomas¹,

Felker²,

Crawford³

1992

Plant Physiol.

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Factors regulating assimilate transport into developing maize (Zea mays L.) kernels have been difficult to determine because of the structural complexity of basal kernel tissues and the damage that results from tissue dissection. The sensitivity of maize kernels to experimental manipulation is such that substantial maternal tissue is required to support kernel growth in vitro. Consequently, sugar transport experiments with isolated seed tissues or detached kernels have not unequivocally demonstrated how sugar transport occurs. In the present study, Tassel-seed Tunicate (Ts-5 Tu) maize kernels were investigated as a model system for introducing test solutions into the pedicel apoplast with minimal wounding. Transpiration in leafy glumes drew 14C-sugar solutions up the 8-to 10-millimeter-long pedicel stalks into the basal endosperm transfer cell region. 14C from fructose was incorporated into starch for 8 days. Sugar uptake into endosperm and embryo tissue showed specificity and inhibitor sensitivity. In particular, p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate partially inhibited fructose uptake into the endosperm but had no effect on the metabolic conversion of that fructose that entered the endosperm. These results are consistent with active, carrier-mediated sugar transport, but a definitive determination would require more detailed tissue analysis. We propose that further refinement of the incubation solution may allow long-term kernel growth without cob tissue and thus provide a more precise determination of which maternal factors influence seed development.

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The Role of Pod Corn in the Origin and Evolution of Maize

Cited by 18 publications

References 10 publications

Molecular genetic basis of pod corn ( Tunicate maize)

Molecular genetic basis of pod corn ( Tunicate maize)

Introgression fromTripsacumintoZeaand the Origin of Maize

Sugar Uptake and Metabolism in the Developing Endosperm of Tassel-seed Tunicate (Ts-5 Tu) Maize

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